AN: Frankly, I want more reviews. So if YOU want more chapters, you'll review.
I thought I'd do a list of names, for those of use who don't know the Japanese names of the character. Serena=Usagi=Rabbit of the Moon Darien=Mamoru=Protector of earth I thought it was interesting that Mamoru's last name is so close to the word for bloodshot, Chibashiru...plus I love vamp stories. Enjoy
* * *
Desire's Deceit
* * *
I had heard rumors of the ruler of the night, the lord of shadows. Rumors of his quicksilver speed, and rumors of his unbelievable power. I hadn't believed any of the stories about him, choosing to wrap myself in illusions that he was just another everyday vamp on a power-trip.
I was dead wrong.
In all my years of slaying I had never met the ruler of the vampires, and I was quite content to think I never would. Meeting the queen of the undead had knocked me out for four days after our brief encounter, and I wasn't looking forward to an encore performance. It's funny how fate can be so unexpected.
It was a regular night, complete with me in my slayer get-up, out hunting again. Already I had sent two werewolves, three zombies, and one black witch back to whatever hell they were spawned from. My gun was running low on ammo, and I could see by the eerie orange moon that I would encounter a lot more werewolves as the night wore on.
Unlike legend perceived them, werewolves did not shift to their natural form on full moons; they changed every orange moon. I don't know where THAT rumor started, but I'm sure it was by one of the creatures of lesser intelligence who started it. But the idea that every full moon caused a human to morph into a wolf had stuck; and spread like wildfire.
I continued on my search for more prey, even though I knew I would have to head back and reload my equipment soon. While my silencer was a nice little toy, it sure ran out of bullets fast. Guns weren't my only option for killing the werewolves that would surely appear as the night went on, but I didn't really want to get myself all cut up while trying to deal brain damage to the lupines.
I sighed impatiently. Where were all the vampires tonight? Although it makes me sound like a bloodthirsty monster too, I have to say they were the most fun to kill. The average bloodsucker was so egotistical that they couldn't even stop to realize I was 'The Killer' before I staked them through the heart. On other occasions they would use those handy little seduction skills and try to suck me dry too, but it was always extra fun to pull out my cross necklace and watch their suave faces drop and see them snarl at me.
The cross had the same effect as garlic, only stronger. It protected me from mind spells and from being mentally enchanted. It was a very useful item I had picked up years ago and I wasn't about to take something so strong and useable and let it go to waste.
Sighing again, I reached over to check my ammunition for the third time. Only five pitiful rounds left. Maybe I'd go on a killing spree later and stake some hell-spawns later instead of worrying about all the werewolves I know are going to be out tonight.
As I looked back up an especially dark patch in the shadows caught my eye. It had taken years of training to learn how to see in darker places than in lighter, and it was still hard; but it was a skill I'd be dead without.
Pretending I didn't know there was anyone over there, I turned around to head the opposite direction. This has proven to be the best method of catching things, several times actually. Just walk away innocently like you're going somewhere...they'll follow.
And sure enough, they did. I could tell it wasn't a witch or shape-shifting wolverine this time though; it was a vampire. You can tell because werewolves make noise when they walk and witches and warlocks make your ears ring when they get too close.
I can't say I'm glad it's a vampire, but I can't really say I'm not either. If it was a werewolf, I'd have to use up the last of my bullets and head home for the night; and it was just beginning. But vampires had a tendency of being a pain in the arse when it came to exercising them. The more intelligent ones would fight with everything they had, including unfair things like morphing into animals, blinding speed and enough power in general to break your body with one hand. Not to mentions they'd pull all kinds of cheap shots like energy balls, force fields and calling they're 'friends' on you.
As I continued walking, I made sure none of my weapons were revealed so I would appear to be the perfect victim. Stake? Check. Dagger? Check. Silencer? Che-
Suddenly I fell a hard tug around my neck and then a sharp snapping sound. I whirled around, stake drawn and ready to kill. Looking around I couldn't see anyone there. I reached up with my free hand and rubbed the sore spot around my neck where I have felt something pulled against it. That was when I realized my cross necklace's weight was missing.
I was incensed. That was my god damn necklace and I wanted it back. It's too bad my necklace was for protection and not for doing physical damage to vampires, because I wanted who ever this one was to BURN.
Apparently this particular vamp wanted to play some mind games with me. Well let the games begin. I put my stake back in it's rightful place strapped to my silver belt and pulled out my dagger. Very deliberately I cut a short thin line along my upper arm. That would make the damn bloodsucker come out from whatever rat hole it was hiding in.
And sure enough, it did get him to come out. He had dark hair, and the typical vampire ethereal beauty, but his eyes are what caught my attention. They were a color I had never seen before, and otherworldly midnight blue, so dark they could have been confused for black to the untrained eye. He was easily the sexiest man I'd ever seen, dead or alive.
What was I doing? Shaking myself I pulling out my stake again and waved my arm at him tauntingly. He glanced at the blood dripping down my hand momentarily before flipping his darkened gaze back to me.
He inclined his head and mock bowed toward me. "The Killer, I presume." His voice was deep and rich, and naturally coated in power.
In fact, I could literally feel the power coming off him in waves. This must have been one of the older vampires, which could only mean one thing--this would be fight to enjoy.
"Master Vampire actually, but you're close." He smirked and cocked his head to the side so his bangs fell over his eyes. So that's why he seems so strong. Well he sure had everything...looks, money, power...But I still wanted my damn necklace back.
"Where are your lackeys? And where is your lamia bitch? Did you get kicked out of the house again?" I pointedly scorned the fact he couldn't get into houses without an invitation...hoping it would hurt him in some way so I could kill him.
His luscious lips quirked up in the shadow of a smile and he shook his head at me. "Now, now...let's play fair. My guard is feeding...and I only recently found my mate." He gave me a secret smile I was suppose to swoon over. I may have, I'm not sure....but I knew my knees for trembling for some reason.
I knew if I showed the tiniest sign of fear or uncertainty he would use it to his advantage and bewitch me while I'm weak, so I kept my anger upfront to hide my insecurity.
I probably wouldn't make it out of this fight alive.
He gave an amused chuckle, I must have let that last thought slip. That is why that necklace was so handy, I didn't have to worry about stray thoughts getting out of my head before I could mask them. The damn vampire just laughed some more at me. Well I was tired of it.
In a blur of speed I dove for his heart, stake poised and ready to become embedded in his already dead heart. I was perfectly on target, aimed straight for the center of his chest and just an inch away from my goal. In that split instant he sidestepped my lunge and pulled my dagger from my belt. Before I could turn around to go for his heart again, I felt something sharp sting my neck for the second time tonight; but this time I knew it wasn't my necklace.
I sucked in a harsh breath, and felt the dagger come closer to my skin as I did-which left me with two choices. Stay where I was and get my head cut off or back up and try to get away from the silver blade. Even as I stepped backwards I could feel myself bump into a hard wall aka the Master vampire's chest, and he was still pushing the dagger into her flesh. Something warm trickled down my neck and I knew I was bleeding.
Holding my breath, I waited for the end to come. Instead I felt warm breath on my ear and an arm wrap around my waist. I realized somewhere between turning around and backing up I had dropped my only weapon, and it now lay out of my reach.
"I wonder what a slayer would taste like...would she be bitter after killing so many...or sugar-sweet like a fallen angel?" His breath made the hairs on my neck rise and I watched my life flash before my eyes.
Something warm and wet went up my neck and I shivered when I realized it was his tongue. I could feel him nibble on my ear as he came back to the same place as before. I didn't want to be his midnight snack! I knew these were my last moments though, and so I closed my eyes and tried to keep the tears from falling. I was still so young...I didn't want to die. After a few seconds when nothing happened I came to the conclusion he wasn't going to kill me yet; so I opened my eyes only to have the tears fall out.
"Don't cry...It is not your fate to die tonight." The tears never hit the ground though, as his lips started in on my face as his tongue had with my neck. Why was he playing these games? What had I done to him to deserve this?
Sometime between my capture and now his hand around the dagger had let up the tiniest bit, and his other arm had slid up and was now unnervingly close to my breasts, resting lightly atop my ribs. There was a highly appreciated silence for a moment before he broke it again by speaking.
"Ambrosia." The dark-haired vampire said the word as if it was the answer to all of life's problems. "That's what you taste like." In some sick perverted way I wondered if he was talking about my blood or skin. I could feel a deep rumble against my back as he chuckled, obviously he had caught that thought. Abruptly a cross on a chain dangled into my line of vision, and I noticed the hand on my ribs had vanished. If I could just get that cross back I could probably win this fight.
The Master Vampire outright laughed at my thoughts.
"You wouldn't win a fight with me, even if you did have your cross on." He gave me an infuriating smirk and then leaned his head over my shoulder while putting the cross back into his pockets and rewrapping his arm around my waist.
"No more games," His voice had gone from suave and sexy to serious and dark in the blink of an eye. I could hear the tone alter from casual and enticing to orders almost as well as I could feel the blade at my throat. "Call me Mamoru." It was a direct, demanding order; and I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the madness of the situation.
And that was it. Suddenly the arm around my waist was gone, was well as the arm holding one of my daggers pressed to my throat, and as I let my head fall back in relief, I realized Mamoru had vanished as well. I should have felt lucky to get out of an experience with the lord of shadows alive...but I didn't. I felt downright befuddled. A million questions spun around in my overactive brain.
Why hadn't he killed me? Why had he taken my cross? Why had he taken my dagger? But above all the other questions one seemingly pointless question echoed inside my brain.
Why had he asked me to call him Mamoru?
* * *
Luna waited diligently by the door, even as a bone-deep panic settled into her system. Usagi would be home soon, and she would be fine, and then Luna would start really start to panic.
A small sob burst through the cat's lips, but soon she had forced it down to tiny hiccups. Luna stood up as she heard footsteps from outside the door.
The blonde opened and closed the door, a preoccupied expression on her face and Luna tried to act like normal. "How was the hunt Usagi?" The black-clad slayer glanced down at her talking cat oddly; Luna was hiding something.
"Luna...what's wrong?" She bent over to pet the hiccupping feline and quickly withdrew her hand when she realized there was something sticky and wet on Luna's fur. "Did you get into the tuna again?" The small Mau shook her head and lifted a paw and pointed down the hall to Usagi's guest room; where Michiru-a young art student at the college Usagi attended-was staying. The blonde quickly came to the conclusion her cat had fallen into a can of paint or something equally hard to get off.
Luna couldn't seem to say anything past her sobs.
"Shh...it's okay...nothings wrong Luna..." Usagi cooed, washing off the sticky red substance from her hands into the kitchen sink. With dawning horror the blonde looked back down at the easily recognizable red liquid. It was blood.
Immediately her slayer reflexes kicked in and she scanned the small apartment for any sign of disturbance. When she had first entered the apartment she had been tired and hungry, therefore she had not noticed the trail of blood leading from the front door to the guest room.
Carefully she drew her stake and dagger...she still didn't know what she was up against, and her gun was empty. Taking silent steps down the carpeted hallway she paused in front of the door. It was dripping with blood; something she would have seen even in the dark--had she not been so exhausted and confused from her encounter with Mamoru.
Drawing in a silent breath she slowly opened the door so it wouldn't creak; and gave a loud scream.
Blood was running down everything. Paintings, instruments, walls, windows and furniture alike were all streaming with the bright red substance. Bones lay everywhere, muscle, tendons and ligaments exposed and torn but still attached to the bone. What was once Michiru's bed now might as well be referred to as 'a blood bath' because Usagi had a feeling if she sat on the bed she would end up swimming in it.
But this was not what had caught Usagi's first and foremost attention and triggered the scream.
Hanging from the fan by reddened hair, and dripping with freshly spilled blood; sat the main revulsion.
Michiru's once teal hair was coated in the blood covering the rest of the room, and her eyes and lips were open in an endless scream.
* * *
AN: So how do you people like where this story is going? This was just a little starter chapter, but eventually it'll be sort of like a darker version of the other one. But it will have a lot of twists and stuff that are totally unique to this story and it will probably end different than the other one will. And it will DEFINITELY be darker. Remember to tell me what you think. Readers love stories, authors love reviews (It's mutually beneficial).
I thought I'd do a list of names, for those of use who don't know the Japanese names of the character. Serena=Usagi=Rabbit of the Moon Darien=Mamoru=Protector of earth I thought it was interesting that Mamoru's last name is so close to the word for bloodshot, Chibashiru...plus I love vamp stories. Enjoy
* * *
Desire's Deceit
* * *
I had heard rumors of the ruler of the night, the lord of shadows. Rumors of his quicksilver speed, and rumors of his unbelievable power. I hadn't believed any of the stories about him, choosing to wrap myself in illusions that he was just another everyday vamp on a power-trip.
I was dead wrong.
In all my years of slaying I had never met the ruler of the vampires, and I was quite content to think I never would. Meeting the queen of the undead had knocked me out for four days after our brief encounter, and I wasn't looking forward to an encore performance. It's funny how fate can be so unexpected.
It was a regular night, complete with me in my slayer get-up, out hunting again. Already I had sent two werewolves, three zombies, and one black witch back to whatever hell they were spawned from. My gun was running low on ammo, and I could see by the eerie orange moon that I would encounter a lot more werewolves as the night wore on.
Unlike legend perceived them, werewolves did not shift to their natural form on full moons; they changed every orange moon. I don't know where THAT rumor started, but I'm sure it was by one of the creatures of lesser intelligence who started it. But the idea that every full moon caused a human to morph into a wolf had stuck; and spread like wildfire.
I continued on my search for more prey, even though I knew I would have to head back and reload my equipment soon. While my silencer was a nice little toy, it sure ran out of bullets fast. Guns weren't my only option for killing the werewolves that would surely appear as the night went on, but I didn't really want to get myself all cut up while trying to deal brain damage to the lupines.
I sighed impatiently. Where were all the vampires tonight? Although it makes me sound like a bloodthirsty monster too, I have to say they were the most fun to kill. The average bloodsucker was so egotistical that they couldn't even stop to realize I was 'The Killer' before I staked them through the heart. On other occasions they would use those handy little seduction skills and try to suck me dry too, but it was always extra fun to pull out my cross necklace and watch their suave faces drop and see them snarl at me.
The cross had the same effect as garlic, only stronger. It protected me from mind spells and from being mentally enchanted. It was a very useful item I had picked up years ago and I wasn't about to take something so strong and useable and let it go to waste.
Sighing again, I reached over to check my ammunition for the third time. Only five pitiful rounds left. Maybe I'd go on a killing spree later and stake some hell-spawns later instead of worrying about all the werewolves I know are going to be out tonight.
As I looked back up an especially dark patch in the shadows caught my eye. It had taken years of training to learn how to see in darker places than in lighter, and it was still hard; but it was a skill I'd be dead without.
Pretending I didn't know there was anyone over there, I turned around to head the opposite direction. This has proven to be the best method of catching things, several times actually. Just walk away innocently like you're going somewhere...they'll follow.
And sure enough, they did. I could tell it wasn't a witch or shape-shifting wolverine this time though; it was a vampire. You can tell because werewolves make noise when they walk and witches and warlocks make your ears ring when they get too close.
I can't say I'm glad it's a vampire, but I can't really say I'm not either. If it was a werewolf, I'd have to use up the last of my bullets and head home for the night; and it was just beginning. But vampires had a tendency of being a pain in the arse when it came to exercising them. The more intelligent ones would fight with everything they had, including unfair things like morphing into animals, blinding speed and enough power in general to break your body with one hand. Not to mentions they'd pull all kinds of cheap shots like energy balls, force fields and calling they're 'friends' on you.
As I continued walking, I made sure none of my weapons were revealed so I would appear to be the perfect victim. Stake? Check. Dagger? Check. Silencer? Che-
Suddenly I fell a hard tug around my neck and then a sharp snapping sound. I whirled around, stake drawn and ready to kill. Looking around I couldn't see anyone there. I reached up with my free hand and rubbed the sore spot around my neck where I have felt something pulled against it. That was when I realized my cross necklace's weight was missing.
I was incensed. That was my god damn necklace and I wanted it back. It's too bad my necklace was for protection and not for doing physical damage to vampires, because I wanted who ever this one was to BURN.
Apparently this particular vamp wanted to play some mind games with me. Well let the games begin. I put my stake back in it's rightful place strapped to my silver belt and pulled out my dagger. Very deliberately I cut a short thin line along my upper arm. That would make the damn bloodsucker come out from whatever rat hole it was hiding in.
And sure enough, it did get him to come out. He had dark hair, and the typical vampire ethereal beauty, but his eyes are what caught my attention. They were a color I had never seen before, and otherworldly midnight blue, so dark they could have been confused for black to the untrained eye. He was easily the sexiest man I'd ever seen, dead or alive.
What was I doing? Shaking myself I pulling out my stake again and waved my arm at him tauntingly. He glanced at the blood dripping down my hand momentarily before flipping his darkened gaze back to me.
He inclined his head and mock bowed toward me. "The Killer, I presume." His voice was deep and rich, and naturally coated in power.
In fact, I could literally feel the power coming off him in waves. This must have been one of the older vampires, which could only mean one thing--this would be fight to enjoy.
"Master Vampire actually, but you're close." He smirked and cocked his head to the side so his bangs fell over his eyes. So that's why he seems so strong. Well he sure had everything...looks, money, power...But I still wanted my damn necklace back.
"Where are your lackeys? And where is your lamia bitch? Did you get kicked out of the house again?" I pointedly scorned the fact he couldn't get into houses without an invitation...hoping it would hurt him in some way so I could kill him.
His luscious lips quirked up in the shadow of a smile and he shook his head at me. "Now, now...let's play fair. My guard is feeding...and I only recently found my mate." He gave me a secret smile I was suppose to swoon over. I may have, I'm not sure....but I knew my knees for trembling for some reason.
I knew if I showed the tiniest sign of fear or uncertainty he would use it to his advantage and bewitch me while I'm weak, so I kept my anger upfront to hide my insecurity.
I probably wouldn't make it out of this fight alive.
He gave an amused chuckle, I must have let that last thought slip. That is why that necklace was so handy, I didn't have to worry about stray thoughts getting out of my head before I could mask them. The damn vampire just laughed some more at me. Well I was tired of it.
In a blur of speed I dove for his heart, stake poised and ready to become embedded in his already dead heart. I was perfectly on target, aimed straight for the center of his chest and just an inch away from my goal. In that split instant he sidestepped my lunge and pulled my dagger from my belt. Before I could turn around to go for his heart again, I felt something sharp sting my neck for the second time tonight; but this time I knew it wasn't my necklace.
I sucked in a harsh breath, and felt the dagger come closer to my skin as I did-which left me with two choices. Stay where I was and get my head cut off or back up and try to get away from the silver blade. Even as I stepped backwards I could feel myself bump into a hard wall aka the Master vampire's chest, and he was still pushing the dagger into her flesh. Something warm trickled down my neck and I knew I was bleeding.
Holding my breath, I waited for the end to come. Instead I felt warm breath on my ear and an arm wrap around my waist. I realized somewhere between turning around and backing up I had dropped my only weapon, and it now lay out of my reach.
"I wonder what a slayer would taste like...would she be bitter after killing so many...or sugar-sweet like a fallen angel?" His breath made the hairs on my neck rise and I watched my life flash before my eyes.
Something warm and wet went up my neck and I shivered when I realized it was his tongue. I could feel him nibble on my ear as he came back to the same place as before. I didn't want to be his midnight snack! I knew these were my last moments though, and so I closed my eyes and tried to keep the tears from falling. I was still so young...I didn't want to die. After a few seconds when nothing happened I came to the conclusion he wasn't going to kill me yet; so I opened my eyes only to have the tears fall out.
"Don't cry...It is not your fate to die tonight." The tears never hit the ground though, as his lips started in on my face as his tongue had with my neck. Why was he playing these games? What had I done to him to deserve this?
Sometime between my capture and now his hand around the dagger had let up the tiniest bit, and his other arm had slid up and was now unnervingly close to my breasts, resting lightly atop my ribs. There was a highly appreciated silence for a moment before he broke it again by speaking.
"Ambrosia." The dark-haired vampire said the word as if it was the answer to all of life's problems. "That's what you taste like." In some sick perverted way I wondered if he was talking about my blood or skin. I could feel a deep rumble against my back as he chuckled, obviously he had caught that thought. Abruptly a cross on a chain dangled into my line of vision, and I noticed the hand on my ribs had vanished. If I could just get that cross back I could probably win this fight.
The Master Vampire outright laughed at my thoughts.
"You wouldn't win a fight with me, even if you did have your cross on." He gave me an infuriating smirk and then leaned his head over my shoulder while putting the cross back into his pockets and rewrapping his arm around my waist.
"No more games," His voice had gone from suave and sexy to serious and dark in the blink of an eye. I could hear the tone alter from casual and enticing to orders almost as well as I could feel the blade at my throat. "Call me Mamoru." It was a direct, demanding order; and I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the madness of the situation.
And that was it. Suddenly the arm around my waist was gone, was well as the arm holding one of my daggers pressed to my throat, and as I let my head fall back in relief, I realized Mamoru had vanished as well. I should have felt lucky to get out of an experience with the lord of shadows alive...but I didn't. I felt downright befuddled. A million questions spun around in my overactive brain.
Why hadn't he killed me? Why had he taken my cross? Why had he taken my dagger? But above all the other questions one seemingly pointless question echoed inside my brain.
Why had he asked me to call him Mamoru?
* * *
Luna waited diligently by the door, even as a bone-deep panic settled into her system. Usagi would be home soon, and she would be fine, and then Luna would start really start to panic.
A small sob burst through the cat's lips, but soon she had forced it down to tiny hiccups. Luna stood up as she heard footsteps from outside the door.
The blonde opened and closed the door, a preoccupied expression on her face and Luna tried to act like normal. "How was the hunt Usagi?" The black-clad slayer glanced down at her talking cat oddly; Luna was hiding something.
"Luna...what's wrong?" She bent over to pet the hiccupping feline and quickly withdrew her hand when she realized there was something sticky and wet on Luna's fur. "Did you get into the tuna again?" The small Mau shook her head and lifted a paw and pointed down the hall to Usagi's guest room; where Michiru-a young art student at the college Usagi attended-was staying. The blonde quickly came to the conclusion her cat had fallen into a can of paint or something equally hard to get off.
Luna couldn't seem to say anything past her sobs.
"Shh...it's okay...nothings wrong Luna..." Usagi cooed, washing off the sticky red substance from her hands into the kitchen sink. With dawning horror the blonde looked back down at the easily recognizable red liquid. It was blood.
Immediately her slayer reflexes kicked in and she scanned the small apartment for any sign of disturbance. When she had first entered the apartment she had been tired and hungry, therefore she had not noticed the trail of blood leading from the front door to the guest room.
Carefully she drew her stake and dagger...she still didn't know what she was up against, and her gun was empty. Taking silent steps down the carpeted hallway she paused in front of the door. It was dripping with blood; something she would have seen even in the dark--had she not been so exhausted and confused from her encounter with Mamoru.
Drawing in a silent breath she slowly opened the door so it wouldn't creak; and gave a loud scream.
Blood was running down everything. Paintings, instruments, walls, windows and furniture alike were all streaming with the bright red substance. Bones lay everywhere, muscle, tendons and ligaments exposed and torn but still attached to the bone. What was once Michiru's bed now might as well be referred to as 'a blood bath' because Usagi had a feeling if she sat on the bed she would end up swimming in it.
But this was not what had caught Usagi's first and foremost attention and triggered the scream.
Hanging from the fan by reddened hair, and dripping with freshly spilled blood; sat the main revulsion.
Michiru's once teal hair was coated in the blood covering the rest of the room, and her eyes and lips were open in an endless scream.
* * *
AN: So how do you people like where this story is going? This was just a little starter chapter, but eventually it'll be sort of like a darker version of the other one. But it will have a lot of twists and stuff that are totally unique to this story and it will probably end different than the other one will. And it will DEFINITELY be darker. Remember to tell me what you think. Readers love stories, authors love reviews (It's mutually beneficial).